Pneumatic tire.



Patented lune ll, I90}. M.A HEATH. PNEUMATIC TIRE.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICFE.

MARK A. HEATH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MARK A. HEATH,JR, AND CHARLES HEATH, OF SAME PLACE.

PNEUMATICATIRE.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 676,395, dated June 1-1,1901. Application filed October 4, 1900. Serial No. 31,966. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK A. HEATH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence andState of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires for'bicycle andother wheels; and it consists, essentially, in the combination,with theusual air-cushioned single tire,of rubber, of a continuous thinsheet-metal corrugated annular lining mounted within and conforming tothe curvature of the tube, its form cross-sectionally beingsubstantially U shaped, and an oppositely-arranged annular liningmember, of sheet metal, having its sides adapted to bear against theadjacent surfaces of the end portions of the two yielding lateral sidesof the other lining member, whereby the movements of the latter when inuse are maintained within fixed limits, while at the same time theresiliency and strength of the rubber tube itself remain practicallyunimpaired.

In protected or metal-lined tires as usually made the lining ornon-puncturable member is embedded in the rubber in the process ofmanufacture, thus rendering the tire to a certain extentnon-collapsible. In other cases the metal lining or shield is confinedbetween the adjacent surfaces of outer and inner tubes of rubber. of thetire is liable to and, in fact, does cause the edges of the shield towear away the contiguous rubber, thereby impairing the strength andefficiency of the tire.

The object I have in view is to overcome the disadvantages inherent ininflatable tires provided with metallic linings constructed and arrangedas just described. In my improved rubber tire, which is of theinflatable or air-cushion type, the device while not rendering itabsolutely non-puncturable serves to maintain the tire in a practicallynormal or distended condition, even though the tire be punctured, thedevice at the same time giving to the tire a considerable degreeof'resiliency and strength, so that the wheel is not renderedunserviceable, though punctured.

In such former devices the action The weight of the tire and the cost ofthe same is not materially increased by the addition of the metalliclining forming the subject of my present invention.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse orcross-sectional view of a pneumatic tire embodying my improvements. Fig.2 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken on line 00 acof Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification ofthe device. Fig. 4 is a partial cross-section showing a slight change inthe form of the outer lining member; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview of the tire, showing a fixed plate interposed between the outerlining member and the corresponding inner surface of the rubber tube.

The following is a more detailed description of the construction andmanner of operation of my improved bicycle-tire.

The tire as a whole is indicated by A. The

tire proper is practically an endless or annular inflatable rubber tubea, adapted to be secured to or mounted on a wheel-rim 1), substantiallyas usual. As commonly constructed such tubes are made somewhatthicker at the center portion of the outer periphery, as shown at a,thereby increasing its durability, while at the same time lessening thechances of its being punctured. Within the rubber tube a is located theyielding lining or supporting members comprising my improvement. Thislining consists of at least two endless or annular members, each beingsubstantially semicircular cross-sectionally and made of'suitable thinsheet metal, as steel. The inner member '0 of said lining-that is, theone contiguous to the wheel-rim b-is plain and having its two side edgesbent inwardly, substantially as shown at c. The form crosssectionallyconforms approximately to that ot the corresponding surface of therubber tire a and is in contact therewith. The other or coacting fellowmember d of the lining is corrugated cross-sectionally and is arrangedopposite the member 0, its two side edges d being suitably bent and inyielding slidable frictional engagement with the said side portions ofthe member a. The tire (I. when normally inflated may have its interiorsurface resting upon the corrugations of the lining IOO member (1, asrepresented in the drawings. As thus constructed it will be apparentthat the two members 0 d are somewhat resilient or yielding in a lateraldirection, and particularly so at the points of contact 0' d with eachother.

In the manufacture of a pneumatic tire A embodying my improvement thesuitably-prepared resilient or spring lining members 0 61 may be placedin a mold containing the rubber tube before the latter is unitedtogether, and the whole then subjected to a degree of heatcapable ofvulcanizing the rubber in a wellknown manner, thereby producing aseamless annular tube a, containing the metallic lining, substantiallyas represented in the drawings. The tire should be provided with theusual valve, through which the tire may be inflated. In the operationofinflating the tire the pressure of air may distend it so that anarrowspace is formed between the adjacent surfaces of the tube and the liningmember d. Now the wheels of a bicycle or other vehicle provided with myimproved tire A when brought into use will in adapting themselves to thecontour or character of the road or surface over which the vehicle ispropelled become more or less flattened. In fact, the rubber tube a maythen bear directly upon the outer or corrugated member d, as shown.Additional weight or pressure upon the outside of the tire depresses thepart (I and forces the sides 0 of the other member a outwardly in alateral direction, thereby stiffening and strengthening the tire andpreventing the rubber tube a from being overstrained.

In case a greater degree of stiffness is required within the tire thelining member (1 may consist of two parts, as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4I have represented a modification of the member (I, the constructionbeing such that the center portion (1 thereof is substantially fiat orconforming cross-sectionally to the shape of the rubber tire or tube. v

In order that the air forced into the tirechamber B may have freecirculation therein, the metal members d may be perforated with holes hat suitable intervals. (See Fig. 2.)

I would add that in case the air under pressure should escape from thetire, or, in other Words, become deflated, the wheel even then may beused by the rider without serious inconvenvience, as the spring liningmembers with oppositely-arranged projections s, the

same forming stops for arresting and limiting the depressed movement ofthe outer lining d. (See Fig. 3.)

In Fig. 5 I have represented an auxiliary sheet-metal lining member dthe same eX- tending partly around and conforming crosssectionally tothe shape of the rubber tube a and being interposed between the adjacentsurfaces of the tube and member 01, thereby transmitting anddistributing more evenly to the corrugated part d the weight or pressureto which the tire is subjected when in use.

I do not claim, broadly, as my invention a pneumatic tire havingmetallic plates or spring lining members therein; but

WVhat I do claim, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent,is

1. The combination within an elastic or pneumatic tire, of acircularly-arranged tran sversely grooved or corrugated thin metallic 8olining member d, a fellow lining member arranged opposite to and formingthe complement of said member d, said members being in yieldingengagement with each other and with the inner surface of the tire, andhaving stops 3 adapted to limit the degree of compressibility of thetire, substantially as described.

In a pneumatic tire, the combination with the inflatable rubber tube a,of the nor- 9o many-stationary spring lining member 0 located within andfitting that portion of the tube adapted to lie contiguous to thewheelrim, and an oppositely-arranged perforated movable lining orfellowmember dalso mount ed within the tube having its two sides in yieldingfrictional engagement with the cor responding sides of said member 0,whereby upon depressing the tire the part at is correspondinglyactuated, which in turn forces apart the sides of the said part c, andstops for limiting the radial movement of the member d, substantially asdescribed.

Signed by 'me at Providence, Rhode Island, this 2d day of October, A. D.1900.

MARK A. HEATH.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTON, C. A. PIERCE.

